Fifty homes are evacuated in Houston, Washington County, after a lightning strike sparks a fire at the MarkWest Energy facility.

Fifty homes are evacuated in Houston, Washington County, after a lightning strike sparks a fire at the MarkWest Energy facility.

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Updated: 1:35 AM EDT May 29, 2014

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WEBVTT HOUSTON, WELL, THEY GOT HIT TOO AND IN A BIG WAY. A PLANT STRUCK BY LIGHTENING. AS MANY AS 50 HOMES EVACUATED. Reporter: THE ENERGY PLANT WAS SHUT DOWN. WE COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE MAIN ROAD. WE WENT AROUND AND GOT THE VANTAGE POINT OF THE PLANT. FIRST RESPONDERS HAD TO EVACUATE 50 HOMES OR SO IN THAT AREA OF WESTERN AVENUE. THE HEAVY RAIN KEPT COMING DOWN. DOWNED TREES WERE BLOCKING SOME OF THE BACK ROADS. NOBODY HAS BEEN INJURED AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER SAYS LOCAL HAZMAT CREWS SAY THERE IS NO GAS LEAK. RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CLEARED TO COME BACK HOME FOR THE NIGHT. IN SUTTERSVILLE, ALL THAT RAIN TURNED INTO FLOOD WATERS OVERWHELMING THE STREETS THERE AND MANY HOMES. ABOUT 20 OR 30 HOMES EFFECTED. THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GO TONIGHT. THE RED CROSS HAS BEEN HELPING PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

Storms bring more flooding, damage

Fifty homes are evacuated in Houston, Washington County, after a lightning strike sparks a fire at the MarkWest Energy facility.